Australia Jobs Report Reflects Mining Slowdown

By

James Glynn

Updated May 9, 2013 4:03 a.m. ET

SYDNEY—Unemployment rose at an accelerating pace in Australia's most resource-rich state last month, adding to evidence that the nation's mining boom is fizzling and validating the central bank's decision to cut interest rates to a record low.

The jobless rate in Western Australia state rose to 5.2% in April from 4.8% in March and 4.1% at the start of the year, government data showed, reflecting a deepening slowdown in mining...